Fulham’s first action since their gallant failure on the blue half of Manchester sees Marco Silva reach 150 games as the Cottagers’ head coach by welcoming Aston Villa to Craven Cottage this afternoon. The Whites might have raised eyebrows with an adventurous display at Eastlands that troubled the champions, but there are no Premier League points awarded for plucky performances or plaudits. Silva also has a selection headache caused by Sasa Lukic’s shoulder injury sustained whilst playing for Serbia last week, with his most consistent performer of the season sidelined for one of the toughest tactical tests a top flight manager can face: locking horns with the irrepressible Unai Emeri.

Lukic has been the standout operator in an engine room that was expected to be weakened by the departure of Joao Palhina for Germany. The former Torino playmaker slotted into a more defensively-minded deployment like has screened back fours throughout his career and his absence for more than a month is a serious blow to Fulham’s cohesion. But Silva does have two ready-made replacements as ‘number sixes’ in the flame-haired red adair Harrison Reed and Sander Berge. The latter was excellent at the Etihad and looks like the most natural fit for the Palhinha position.

Silva spent yesterday’s press conference expressing heartfelt horror and empathy for Ronnie Gibbons as well as lauding Emery’s achievements at Villa Park. It is almost two years to day since Steven Gerrard’s reign in charge of Aston Villa came to a shuddering halt in SW6 with his rabble of a side resembling relegation fodder in the rain. The transformation in Villa’s fortunes has been remarkable, especially for Emery – who like Silva – felt he had a point to prove in English football after the harsh criticism that followed his tenure at Arsenal. Villa’s rise to Champions’ League contenders might have been meteoric but it was richly deserved and built on progressive passing, sound technical principles and the insatiable work ethic that drives the modern manager.

A sixth Villa victory in the last seven league meetings would give Villa their best start to a top flight campaign since 1998/1999, when John Gregory’s unlikely title challenge came off the rails spectacularly after third-tier Fulham famously caused a massive FA Cup shock at Villa Park in the third round. Emery, whose side beat Bayern Munich and had much the better of a goalless draw with Manchester United last time out, is boosted by the return of seven first-team players to his possible matchday squad this afternoon. England internationals Tyrone Mings and Erzi Konsa might step straight back into the back four with Boubacar Kamara now safely past a long-term lay-off, whilst the magnificent John McGinn and Andre Onana could both return to the middle of the park after missing the meeting with Manchester United, with talented tyros Jacob Ramsay and Jaden Philogene also ready to pose problems for the Whites.

Silva will have to deal with Villa’s ruthless exploitation of opponents who employ the fashionable mid-block that the Portuguese has favoured throughout his coaching career. It was the way Emery’s outfit embarrassed the Whites by the banks of the Thames last season, with the reliable Ollie Watkins putting the game beyond the home side almost before Fulham had got out of first gear. Villa’s physicality, strength and explosive transformation from interceptions into amazing attacking opportunities is a sight to see and preventing the likes of Watkins, Jhon Duran and an phalanx of forward talent running riot. The diligence of Alex Iwobi will be vital as well as the artistry of Andreas Pereira, scorer of a stunner for Brazil in week, alongside the sophistry of Emile Smith Rowe to keep the ball in higher positions.

Adama Traore has had a week to reflect on Pep Guardiola’s post-match reflections but is likely to hold off Harry Wilson’s strong international form to start against one of his old employers. The Spaniard would love to put his misses in Manchester behind him, whilst Raul Jimenez’s own renaissance – which continued with a fabulous free-kick against the USA on Tuesday – is a redemption arc for the ages that Fulham have specialised in during the Silva era. It should be a fascinating spectacle.

MY FULHAM XI (4-2-3-1): Leno; Tete, A. Robinson, Andersen, Bassey; Berge, Pereira; Traore, Iwobi, Smith Rowe; Jimenez. Subs: Benda, Diop, Sessegnon, Reed, King, Cairney, Wilson, Nelson, Muniz.